Abstract: A tool for a mineral winning machine, more usually a plough, has a flat plate-like body with a bore containing a nozzle insert and preferably a hard metal cutting region or blade is also provided on the body. High pressure water is conveyed through the bore and nozzle insert to discharge as a jet which is directed to impinge against the mineral or coal face to effect a cut therein hydraulically. The nozzle insert has its discharge mouth in a protected position inside the body.

Abstract: A mineral, e.g., coal, mining installation employs a winning machine, such as a plough, equipped with cutting means and which is moved back and forth along a mineral or coal face and along a scraper-chain conveyor as is known per se. Roof support units are arranged along the goaf side of the conveyor and employ roof bars projecting across the roof of the working towards the mineral face. Shifting rams are provided to alternately advance the conveyor and the roof support units as the winning work progresses. The roof bars of the units are pivotably connected to forwardly-projecting components which act as carriers for swinging nozzles emitting high-pressure water jets which impinge on the face to create a channel at the roof zone thereof. The position of the channel can be adjusted by pivoting the carriers with the aid of hydraulic devices.

Abstract: A mineral winning installation employs a plurality of plough bodies spaced apart along the mineral face and interconnected to form a common plough train which is moved in unison back and forth along the face. The plough bodies have high-pressure fluid emission nozzles and a high-pressure pipe line extending between the bodies supplies high pressure fluid to the nozzles, which discharge the fluid for impact with the mineral face.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation for winning material in a "stable-hole" region of a longwall face comprises a guide and a base slidably mounted on the guide. At least one tool carrier is pivotally mounted on the base and drive means are provided for reciprocating the base along the guide. Control means are provided for pivoting each carrier between an operating position and a non-operating position, the control means being such that a working stroke of the drive means initially pivots each carrier from its non-operating position to its operating position and then causes the base and carrier(s) to execute a working stroke along the guide. The control means is also such that a return stroke of the drive means initially causes each carrier to pivot from its operating position to its non-operating position, and then causes the base and carrier(s) to execute a return stroke along the guide.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation has a longwall conveyor provided with a guide at the face-side thereof. A drive frame is provided at each end of the conveyor, and a plough is movable along the guide to win material from the longwall face. The plough is driven by a chain passing round a pair of end sprockets associated with the drive frames. The plough is constituted by a pair of plough bodies joined together by an intermediate member pivotally connected therebetween. Each of the plough bodies is provided with cutter bits and the intermediate member may also have cutter bits. The two ends of the plough driving chain are connected to the intermediate member, and the plough is of sufficient length to enable material to be won at least as far as each end sprocket.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation has a conveyor and a plough movable along a guide provided at the face side of the conveyor. An auxiliary winning machine constituted by a cutter drum mounted on a carrier by means of a pivotal jib, is provided for winning material in the "stable-hole" region. The carrier is movable along an auxiliary guide which is an extension of the plough guide. The carrier is provided with a drivable pinion which meshes with a rack on the auxiliary guide for driving the auxiliary winning machine along the auxiliary guide.

Abstract: In a tunnel driving apparatus which employs hydraulic rams for advancing a shield in the direction of tunnel advancement, a thrust ring is used as a support for the rams. Lining sections are installed at the rear side of the thrust ring as the latter is shifted up. These lining sections are each spaced from the exposed tunnel wall when installed to receive fluid concrete used to form a tunnel lining. The thrust ring defines chambers, one of which has filter means which faces the concrete reception space and contacts the concrete therein. Water is withdrawn from the concrete by suction created by reducing the pressure in the chambers and the other of the chambers is used to collect the water. Inflatable packings are used to seal off the concrete reception space and can be deflated when the thrust ring is shifted up.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a tunnel, the apparatus having a knife shield composed of a circular array of elongate knife implements supported by a frame and attachable to a drive frame which can be moved to cause the implements to penetrate into a working face in order to excavate material therefrom. To the rear of the knife shield there is an advanceable temporary lining composed of tube sections arranged end-to-end and designed to support the newly-formed tunnel. This advanceable lining extends into a rear shield composed of a rearwardly extending portion of the implements lined with plank members.A tubular revetment has a flange which abuts the advanceable lining at the side remote from the knife shield and fluid concrete is inserted around the periphery of the revetment to form a permanent tunnel lining, separated from the advanceable lining by the flange. The advanceable lining and the revetment are moved up from time to time as the driving progresses.